The Craze of Top Knots: Tutorial!

Photo Credit: http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/08/04/move-over-side-braid-its-time-to-embrace-the-top-knot-a-k-a-summers-perfect-hairstyle/

Top knots are super hot for this fall and they never seem to go out of style. Celebrities all over Hollywood love rocking this chic hairstyle, whether they're running errands and making the sidewalk their runway, or walking the red carpet at some of the hottest events worldwide. However, you don't need the lights, camera and action to achieve this playful and flirty look, nor do you need to break the bank at a hair salon. With a few simple tips and tricks, you'll be rocking a top bun like you own it.

First, you need to get your hair tied back into a slick ponytail. Of course, you can always leave some pieces hanging down for a more relaxed look.

Once you have your hair tied back into a ponytail, divide it into two parts and start to separated wrap each around the elastic band that is currently holding your hair into a pony tail. Feel free to get creative with the wrapping! Braids and twists would be fabulous elements to this hairstyle.

Secure each section that you have wrapped around your elastic band with some bobby pins. Try to intertwine the pins into the actual base of the ponytail for a better hold.

Now, that is the basic top knot bun that you can achieve, and once you have that down pat, it's most certainly time for you to indulge in your inner creative side and see what else you can pull off. As mentioned, twists and braids are always trendy tweaks that you can imply into any hair style. They're also super easy to achieve to add a little more personality into your look.

Another great option would be to twist the separated pieces in opposite directions. Your hair will fold into the top knot bun differently, and with this hair style being so trendy, it can't hurt to add a little spin and look different! If you really trust your talents and bobby pins, try to separate the ponytail into three or four pieces instead of the original two in the basic tutorial above. This will provide volume and texture and surely, the unique look that you're craving.

Celebrities from Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie and Whitney Port are some of Hollywood's hottest stars that are often spotted rocking this fabulous little hair style. Now, you can look just as marvelous and achieve the top bun look without the salon and all of the hassle that most hair tutorials bring! All you need to know is the basic top knot bun tutorial and from there, you'll be able to implement different elements into your hair to achieve the look that you want.  Are you lacking some inspiration? Scan over some of the hottest Hollywood stars versions of the top knot and see if you can make the tweaks necessary to get the same look. And well, if you do - don't forget to give us a little shout and tutorial at the Flat Iron Experts blog, okay?

Types of Watches to Personalize Your Outfit!

               Okay let’s be honest ladies, how many of us today still use a watch? If you are not sure, watches are those things that go around your wrist, like a bracelet and tell you the time! I admit I just carry around my cell phone to check the time and for the most part find no need of a watch. However when my phone dies on me it’s brutal, especially when I’m trying to make it to my destination and I’m running late! (It’s the worst feeling.)  In recent times that I have gone to the mall I have noticed that there are very cute and styling accessories that serve the purpose of a watch. So if you are like me and don’t like using a watch here are a couple of things you can buy to help you style your look and tell you the time.

Lockets

 Lockets, One of my old time favorite things; they are coming back (woooh, *happy dance*), with a watch inside them. These types of necklaces are super stylish; you can wear them with sweater dresses, plain shirts, and even some formal dresses. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Rings

 Alright, let’s be honest, what girl doesn’t like a big styling ring hugging her finger? These types of watches have fascinated me. Who came up with such a brilliant idea? They are super comfortable and you can wear with literally anything (they are very convenient to keep in your jewelry box.) 

Bracelets

 A bracelet is like a watch but much prettier and less chunky than the majority of watches. Personally I like bracelets a lot more because they give a woman a more delicate look (but that’s just me.)  Now I know people don’t always wear bracelets but these watches look really good when going to a semi-formal or formal event. 

Key chains

 Okay, I know that key chains are not things you wear but they are items which you accessorize your keys with. Therefore you can buy key chains that have watches embedded in them.  And since you carry your keys around all the time you will always be aware of the time. 

                Alright, these are just some new ideas that have evolved from the original watch. Try them out and see how you like them. And don’t worry you if you don’t know where to buy these accessories, you can find them at any and best of all they are super affordable :)  

Week 2: Nutritional Yet Delicious Dinners

Welcome back to Week 2 of our How To Eat Better blogs. So just to review the tips that were presented last week:

Tip #1: Prepare your meal plan ahead of time!

Preparing your snacks and meal plans a head of time will help portion control and will help us make sure that we are eating all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Tip #2: Physically prepare the food the day before (if you can).

It is imperative to take 10-15 minutes the night before preparing our food for the next day-whether this is chopping the vegetables and herbs or pre-slicing and marinating the meat for the next day’s meal.

Tip #3: Don’t forget to indulge yourself once in awhile.

Plan a treat once in awhile and include a scrumptious dessert to spoil yourself.

Tip #4: Find foods that you like.

Find a recipe that includes items you like, and not so much the food products you don’t like. If you don’t like Spinach, you don’t have to eat it. There are other food items that will supply you with the nutrients that Spinach gives.

Now onto our main course! Literally :)

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken (6 servings. Calories: 281 per serving, Fat: 10.8g, Cholesterol: 75mg)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup dry bread crumbs

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the oil mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.

Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Side Dishes: Add steamed red potatoes and zucchini drizzled with dried parsley, garlic salt, and pepper to taste.

  

Heavenly Halibut (Servings: 8. Calories: 235 per serving; Fat: 13.9g; Cholesterol: 58mg)

Ingredients

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons chopped green onion

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 dash hot pepper sauce

2 pounds skinless halibut fillets

Directions

Preheat the oven broiler. Grease a baking dish.

In a bowl, mix the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onions, salt, and hot pepper sauce.

Arrange the halibut fillets in the prepared baking dish.

Broil halibut fillets 8 minutes in the prepared oven, or until easily flaked with a fork. Spread with the Parmesan cheese mixture, and continue broiling 2 minutes, or until topping is bubbly and lightly browned.

Side Dishes: Steam asparagus or green beans as a side. Drizzle with herbs to taste.

And for my vegetarians. I have not forgotten about you. I will be writing an all vegetarian meal plan in a later article but thought to include a nice dinner that is both healthy, delicious, and vegan! And for those who aren’t living the vegan lifestyle, take a chance and try this one out! It’s super yummy!

 

 

 

 

Unsloppy Joes (Servings: 8. Calories: 204; Fat: 3.9g; Cholesterol: 0mg)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

8 kaiser rolls

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, green pepper, and garlic: saute until tender. Stir in tomatoes, chili powder, tomato paste, vinegar, and pepper. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.

Stir in kidney beans, and cook an additional 5 minutes.

Cut a 1/4 inch slice off the top of each kaiser roll; set aside. Hollow out the center of each roll, leaving about 1/2 inch thick shells; reserve the inside of rolls for other uses.

Spoon bean mixture evenly into rolls and replace tops. Serve immediately.

NOTE: This is a perfect meal to double and freeze half! Warms up quite nicely!

 

Side Dish: Brugandy Mushrooms (NOM NOM NOM!!!) (Servings: 4. Calories: 59; Fat: 0.5g; Cholesterol: 0mg)

Ingredients

1/2 cup diced onion

1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth

2 (8 ounce) cans whole mushrooms, drained, liquid reserved from one can

1/3 cup Burgundy wine

Recipes compliments of allrecipes.com

The Best Ways to Add Volume to Your Hair

Many women will say that when it comes to their hair they wish they could have volume and voluptuous body. Mostly this statement comes from women with fine hair, but it is not uncommon to hear women with other hair types say this also. Here are some tips on the best ways to make this happen.

Avoid Weighing Hair Down

Many times the reason that women cannot get volume is because they are weighing it down. This means that they are using excessive products that are weighing down each strand of hair. On fine hair, especially, this will remove all the volume that she had starting out with. Even some shampoos and conditioners can make this kind of impact.

Anyone with limp hair that knows they use products on a daily base needs to strip their hair by using a clarifying shampoo. This will remove excess residue and return life to the hair. They should then use a bare minimum of products when styling.

Stick to the Basics

Women looking for volume should use shampoo, conditioner (on the ends only), and mousse (avoid the ends). These three items will keep the hair from being weighted down, but will give it the lift that is needed. Add mousse to damp hair before blow drying preferably with a diffuser.

Learn to Blow-Dry Correctly

When using a hair dryer, it is best to use clips to section the hair. That way the woman can make sure that all of the hair is getting completely dry – even the roots on the very bottom layer of hair. Most women should wait until their hair is damp before starting to blow dry. This is to one, keep the woman from giving up on getting her hair completely dry, and two, use as little heat on the hair as possible. When she believes it is dry, set the blow dryer on the cool setting to make sure. This will allow her to feel and make sure each section is completely dry. Also, to properly style the hair and expect it to hold, the hair must be cool and not hot. Also, the hair that has been sectioned in clips has been allowed to dry from the roots, and this will help to give the hair lift and body.

Change the Cut

For women with fine hair, they can appear to have thick hair in one easy step – get a one length hair cut. This means no layers or odd angles. One length makes hair appear at its thickest, and for women with fine hair, layers can mean the hair appears very stringy. Also, the shorter the cut is, the thicker it will be. When fine hair gets longer, it has more weight pulling it down, which will make it appear flat. The ideal cut is at the shoulder lever. This will provide a length long enough to do several different styles but will still be able to have body.